Dubai retains top spot for global FDI attraction in 2024

Dubai has been ranked the world’s number one destination for Greenfield Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects for the fourth consecutive year, according to Financial Times Ltd.’s ‘fDi Markets’ data.

In 2024, the city attracted AED 52.3 billion ($14.24 billion) in FDI, a 33.2% increase from the previous year, marking the highest FDI value ever recorded in a single year.

Dubai also saw a record 1,117 Greenfield FDI projects and 1,826 announced FDI projects, creating 58,680 jobs. The city's impressive performance highlights its thriving business environment, world-class infrastructure, and favorable regulations, driven by the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to double the economy by 2033.

In 2024, Dubai ranked globally in various sectors, including business services, IT, and financial services, solidifying its position as a hub for investment, innovation, and job creation.

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, said Dubai’s emergence as a frontrunner in the global investment landscape has been inspired and guided by the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai.

For the fourth year in a row, Dubai has been ranked as the world’s top destination for Greenfield Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects, according to Financial Times Ltd.’s ‘fDi Markets’ data. In 2024, the emirate attracted 1,117 Greenfield FDI projects worth over AED52… pic.twitter.com/DdaTyFXrtt

— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) March 9, 2025

“Dubai’s ability to steadily consolidate its status as a leading global destination for foreign direct investment reflects its commitment to delivering exceptional value to investors worldwide.

The city’s ranking as the world’s No.1 destination for attracting Greenfield FDI for the fourth consecutive year is a testament to its ability not only to set new global benchmarks for sustained, rapid growth but also to continuously evolve its investment proposition in response to changes sweeping the international market.

This success is the result of a strategic vision that keeps pace with economic and technological transformations, aligned with the ambitious objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 to double the size of the emirate’s economy by 2033 and establish it as one of the world’s top three urban economies.”